Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites
  • Southeast Tourism

Trails at Crooked River
PALMETTO TRAIL

This 1.5-mile trail introduces you to the south Georgia Pine Flatwoods. An ecosystem whose 98% decline is one of the most severe of any ecosystem on earth. Fire is essential for maintaining this rare ecosystem dominated by Longleaf Pine, Saw Palmetto, and Wire Grass. Its plants and animals are well adapted to periodic low intensity fires. The open woods are ideal for bird watching in early morning and before sunset while the sandy soil is great for tracking wildlife. Common birds are Eastern Towhee, Blue Birds, Nuthatch, Osprey, many woodpeckers, and warblers. Many fruit bearing plants can be found in the understory such as Blueberries, Muscadine Grapes, Catbrier, Sparkleberry, Wax Myrtle, and Gull Berry. Endangered species such as the Gopher Tortoise and the Eastern Indigo Snake depend on this habitat for survival.

More about the Palmetto Trail.

SEMPERVIRENS TRAIL

As you walk along the trail you will notice the old growth hardwoods, which give this trail the name Sempervirens – Latin for “ever-living”. Follow the trail back and you will notice the forest becoming more dense. Large oak, cherry, and hickory trees make up the canopy along the nature loop portion of the trail. The calcium-rich soil that nurtures these large hardwoods comes from oyster shells left behind by the Native Americans of this area. Over time the oyster shells have been decomposing and depositing calcium into the soil.

Other plants and trees that grow in the rich soil include: Southern Magnolia, Godfrey Swamp Privet, Red Cedar, American Basswood, and Yaupon Holly. The Sempervirens Trail also boasts 5 Georgia State Champion trees: the Staggerbush Lyonia, Florida Soapberry, Myrtle Oak, Chapman Oak, and Carolina Holly.

As you leave the dense hardwoods and continue into the pine-oak forest, you may encounter a gopher tortoise – Georgia’s state reptile. They prefer the sandy soils to dig their burrows and the low growing grasses to feed on. Other animals that can be spotted along the Sempervirens include: armadillos, feral hogs, raccoons, and orb weaver spiders.

The Sempervirens Trail also offers a birding platform. The platform provides a good view of the salt marsh as well as an opportunity to look for birds. Some of the birds you may see include: Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Osprey, Pileated Woodpeckers, White-Eyed Vireo, and Warblers.

More about the Sempervirens Trail.

RIVER TRAIL

This trail is short and sweet. Only a few hundred yards long it winds along the bluff and down into the marsh. It is a beautiful spot for fishing and bird watching. Wood Storks and herons roost in the dead pines overlooking the rivers edge. Sheepshead, Whiting, Trout, Black Drum, rays and small sharks can be caught from the shore. This quiet spot overlooks the Crooked River and golden marsh grasses which are famous to Georgia’s coast.

BAY BOARDWALK TRAIL

The boardwalk takes you into a Bay Forest ecosystem. This hardwood and evergreen wetland is dominated by two species of trees; Loblolly and Swamp Bay. Even during the winter months, this bay forest appears as a wall of dark green, dense foliage. Typical swamps in South Georgia contain cypress and gum trees and appear bare and open during winter months. As you enter the Bay Forest, notice how the tree canopy gets taller and thicker, shading the forest floor. During the summer months the shade provided by the trees is noticeably cooler and feels more humid.

Although the creek bottom appears mucky the creek water is surprisingly clear, even after heavy rainfall. The water in the creek comes from rainfall and seepage from the surrounding sandy soil of the pine forest. The remains of decaying trees and leaf litter form a layer of peat on the forest floor. This peat layer can be many feet thick. The soil in the Bay Forest is strongly acidic, sandy and high in organic matter. It holds water like a sponge, which enables it to support the many wetland plants that are not found in the surrounding pine forest. Because of its ability to hold water, the forest floor will not support fire except in extreme drought conditions.

Common Trees and plants found in the Bay Forest: Loblolly Bay, Swamp Bay, Tulip Poplar, Water Oak, Red Maple, Sweet Gum, Swamp and Water Tupelo, Cinnamon fern, Netted Chain Fern, Southern Woodfern, Resurrection Fern, Climbing Hydrangea, Muscadine Grapes, Fetterbrush Lyonia and Wax Myrtle.

Common Birds Found in the Bay Forest: Red Bellied Woodpecker, Piliated Woodpecker, Flicker, Sapsucker, Common Yellowthroat Warbler, Pine Warbler, Northern Parula Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Nuthatch, Great Crested Flycatcher, Acadian Flycatcher, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, Red-Tailed Hawk and numerous other species of migratory songbirds and raptors.

More about the Bay Boardwalk Trail.


Click on the map below to download a pdf file of the trail map brochure for Crooked River State Park.
Printed trail map brochures are also available at the park office.




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